2002 Saturn LS Powertrain (other) Problems

TAKATA RECALL VEHICLE IN PARK WHEN STARTED. LIGHTS DIM AN GO BRIGHT ON DASH. FAN GOES ON WHEN MOTOR NOT HOT. WHEN FAN GOES ON AND CAR IS BEING DRIVEN CAR WILL JUMP WHEN CAR SHIFTS GEARS. I ONLY CAN DRIVE ON SIDE ROADS. TO NERVOUS TO GO ON HIGHWAY NOW. ONLY HAPPENS WHEN COOLING FAN IS ON. I HAVE SEEN LOTS OF REPORTS THAT PEOPLE POST OF OTHER CARS LIKE MINE HAVING SAME ISSUES. WAS TOLD THEY REPORTED IT. NOTHING WAS DONE. SERIOUSLY THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. SHOULDN'T MATTER WERE THE CAR WAS MADE. PARTS ARE THE SAME. I HAVEN'T BROUGHT IT IN SINCE 2017. I DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR REPAIRS OR FIX IT IF IT'S THE MANUFACTURS FAULTY PARTS. I'VE ALREADY PUT 1400 DOLLARS FOR REPLACEMENT OF FUEL PUMP AN OTHER PARTS. AN THIS PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF AN WHEN YOU CAN LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11114655

Incident

Mar 1, 2016

ENCOUNTERED ROUGH GEAR CHANGES WHILE DRIVING. TOOK THE CAR TO A GM DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION. THE TROUBLE CODE P1811 WAS " TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKAGE CAUSING PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID MALFUNCTION PER C OBT" RECOMMEND TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT"

NHTSA ID

11025485

Incident

Sep 25, 2017

Mileage

65,184 mi

I LOST POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND AT FULL THROTTLE THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION. IT MADE A LOUD BOOM LIKE A BACKFIRE AND A LARGE PIECE OF MATERIAL THAT LOOKED FIBERGLASS MATTING AND ROCKS BLEW OUT OF THE EXHAUST. THE CAR ACCELERATED FINE FOR ABOUT 15 MILES THEN STARTED TO BOG DOWN AGAIN. SHUT OFF VEHICLE AND TRIED TO RESTART UNSUCCESSFUL, WAITED A FEW HOURS THEN CAR RESTARTED WITH NO ISSUES RAN VEHICLE OFF AND ON OVER A THREE DAY PERIOD, THAT IS WHEN IT STARTED MALFUNCTIONING AGAIN WITH VERY ROUGH IDLE, ALMOST DIES, EXTREME LOSS OF POWER W/ALMOST NO ACCELERATION AT FULL THROTTLE. CONTACTED MECHANIC THE VEHICLE RESONATOR WAS EXPANDED TO THE POINT OF SPLITTING THE SEAM, HE REMOVED THE RESONATOR TO FIND ALL THE FIBER PACKING GONE AND THE RESONATOR PACKED WITH WHAT LOOKED LIKE ROCKS. HE STATED THE BITS THAT LOOKED LIKE ROCKS WERE PART OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER PACKING THAT HAD BEEN HEATED ABOVE THE LIMITS OF THE MATERIAL. THE DISINTEGRATED MATERIAL MADE A BLOCKAGE IN THE RESONATOR NOT ALLOWING THE EXHAUST GASSES TO FLOW HE CHECKED FOR TSB'S AND RECALL CAMPAIGNS AND FOUND CAMP # 03V231000 ACTION # 03033 RECALL # 03-C-06 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IGNITION CONTROL MODULE) AND CAMP # 07V519000 ACTION # EA06009 RECALL # 06074. (ENG. TIMING CHAIN) CALLED GM RECALL CENTER GIVEN CASE #8-2430110427 PER BRANDY SHE IS GETTING MANY CALLS ON THIS, SHE SHOWS ONLY THE RECALL 03-C-06 ONLY AND SHE IS TO DENY ANY ADDITIONAL CLAIMS EVEN THOUGH THEY REPLACED THE PART WITH THE SAME PART THAT WAS RECALLED TO BEGIN WITH. INVESTIGATED RECALL # 06074 AND FOUND THAT DID NOT INCLUDE THE 2002 SATURN L SERIES HOWEVER PER MY MECHANIC BOTH RECALLS ARE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WITH THE OUTSTANDING ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE. THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE 2002 SATURN L SERIES SHOULD NOT BE ON THE ROAD AND IT SHOULDN'T TAKE AN ACCIDENT OR A DEATH BEFORE YOU PEOPLE DECIDE TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES.

NHTSA ID

10915067

Incident

Sep 4, 2016

Mileage

164,155 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY WHERE IT STALLED. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,192. UPDATED 6/8/15*CN

NHTSA ID

10702488

Incident

Dec 15, 2011

Mileage

106,192 mi

AT 60 MPH ON FREEWAY THE TIMING BELT BROKE. I LOST POWER AND CONTROL OF THE CAR. IT CANNOT BE STARTED. SINCE THE REPAIR COST IS TOO HIGH (MORE THAN $2000), AND MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE GM RECALL #06074, I HAD TO JUNK THE CAR. *JS THE CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVERS. GM IS NOT WILLING TO RECALL ALL 2001 L200. HOWEVER, DUE TO SO MANY COMPLAINS OF THE SAME PROBLEMS FROM DRIVERS OF THE 2001 SATURN L200 (WHOSE CARS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL) NHTSA SHOULD FORCE GM TO RECALL ALL 2011 SATURN L200.

NHTSA ID

10669179

Incident

Dec 29, 2014

Mileage

15,500 mi

PLEASE HELP! MY KEY AND IGNITION ARE BURNING HOT, MY CAR DOESN'T ALWAYS START, THE POWER CUTS OFF, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF AND WHEN I START IT IN THE MORNING THE EXHAUST IS SUPER STRONG. GM TOLD ME I HAVE TO PAY A DEALER $110.00 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM THAT YOU HAVE CLEARLY DEFINED AND RECALLED IN 2003 BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED AS THE ORIGINAL OWNER FOR THAT RECALL. I BROKE MY NECK AND AM A SINGLE, DISABLED MOM OF A 12 YEAR OLD. I DO NOT WANT TO BE TRAPPED IN A FIRE OR REARENDED AND TOTALLY PARALYZED OR DEAD! WHAT THE HECK IS GM THINKING? THEY SAID THEY ONLY ACT ON RECALLS IF THEY COME FROM YOU! *TR

NHTSA ID

10649805

Incident

Oct 24, 2014

Mileage

88,000 mi

VEHICLE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AS VEHICLE WAS BEING BACKED OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT 2-3 MPH. NO INJURIES OCCURRED, BUT ENGINE WAS CATASTROPHICALLY DAMAGED. ESTIMATED REPAIR COSTS FROM MY MECHANIC WAS $1700 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. UPDATED 11/24/2014 *JS

NHTSA ID

10592235

Incident

May 2, 2014

Mileage

133,000 mi

AFTER STOPPING WAITING FOR TRAFFIC TO PASS I TURNED TO PULL INTO MY DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND ENGINE STALLED CAUSING ME TO GET STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD BLOCKING TRAFFIC. CAR GAVE NO INDICATION ANYTHING WAS WRONG UNTIL IT JUST STALLED IN THE ROAD. NO NOISES OR ROUGH RUNNING OR ANYTHING! VALVES WERE DESTROYED AND ENGINE IS JUNK. FOUND OUT LATER THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS CAR AND SYSTEM AND MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE INCLUDED MY YEAR CAR I HAVE NOT YET CALLED DEALER TO SEE IF THEY WILL HELP IN ANY WAY! BUT WITH ONLY 80500 MILES ON THIS CAR I AM REALLY UNHAPPY THAT I NOW NEED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10567536

Incident

Mar 5, 2014

Mileage

80,500 mi

THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED WITH REGULAR OIL CHANGES. WHILE TURNING ONTO A MAIN STREET THE ENGINE JUST QUIT, LEAVING ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I WAS FORTUNATE I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AS I WOULD HAVE HAD NO MEANS TO REMOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE HIGHWAY CAUSING EXTREME DANGER TO THE OCCUPANTS OF THE CAR. AUTHORIZED SATURN DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN, CAUSING FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE VALVES AND POSSIBLY THE PISTONS IN THE ENGINE. $3000 REPAIR BILL. THERE HAD BEEN A PRIOR RECALL #07V519000 ON THE SATURN L200 2001 VERSION FOR THE SAME ISSUE AND IT APPEARS IT WAS NOT RESOLVED IN THE 2002 MODEL. VEHICLE WAS BUILT IN 09/01. *TR

NHTSA ID

10534027

Incident

Aug 1, 2013

Mileage

78,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L200. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER ACCORDING TO RECALL 03V231000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE). THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE AND THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED WITHOUT WARNING ON A SEPARATE OCCASION. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE TIMING CHAIN AND THE CONTACT PAID HALF OF THE REPAIR COST. MOST RECENTLY, THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND BODY CONTROL MODULE SUDDENLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

NHTSA ID

10327507

Incident

Mar 7, 2005

Mileage

40,000 mi

ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2010, MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN THE CAR STARTED KNOCKING AND THEN JUST CUT OFF. SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART IT AND STRUGGLED TO QUICKLY GUIDE IT TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. SHE THEN CALLED A WRECKER WHO TOWED IT TO A LOCAL GARAGE. THEY RAN AN ANALYSIS AND DISCOVERED THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN. HE SAID , IN HIS OPINION, THAT THIS WAS HIGHLY UNUSUAL WHICH SPURRED US TO SEARCH THE INTERNET TO LEARN IF THIS WAS A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH OTHER 2002 SATURN L200'S WITH LESS THAN 100,000 MILES, AND APPARENTLY IT IS. WE CALLED THE ONLY SATURN DEALERSHIP LEFT IN OUR CITY AND WERE TOLD THAT HER VIN NUMBER WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. WITH ALL THAT I HAVE READ IN THE PAST 24 HOURS, I FIND IT VERY HARD TO BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS ONLY LIMITED TO JUST THE 2001 L200 SERIES. SATURN SEEMS NOT TO WANT TO HELP IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM OTHER THAN TO BRING THE CAR IN AND REPLACE THE PARTS AND/OR ENGINE AT OUR EXPENSE! THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR HER OR ANYONE ELSE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS! SHE HAS ALWAYS TAKEN GOOD CARE OF THIS VEHICLE. IF MY DAUGHTER HAD NOT HAD THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD WHEN SHE DID, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A FAR DIFFERENT OUTCOME! *TR

NHTSA ID

10303718

Incident

Jan 29, 2010

Mileage

95,257 mi

THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. THE CAR WAS PROPERLY CARED FOR AND MAINTAINED, RECEIVING OIL CHANGES AND OTHER PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE AT THE APPROPRIATE TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10261729

Incident

Mar 11, 2009

Mileage

124,000 mi

CONSUMER COMPLAINT ABOUT LEAKING AXLE SEALS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MECHANIC INFORMED HIM THAT THE AXLE SEALS WERE LEAKING AND IT WOULD COST HIM ABOUT $770.00 TO FIX IT. *KB ***NAR***

NHTSA ID

10229578

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

2002 SATURN L200 52,000 MILES I WAS DRIVING ON THE LOOP HERE IN LUBBOCK GOING ABOUT 65MPH WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER. MY CAR STARTED GOING VERY SLOW AND THEN CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CAR ALSO LOST POWER STEERING SO I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO GET ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC TO BE WORKED ON AND HE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE FUEL PUMP. WELL HE CALLED LATER AND SAID IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN AND IT HAD BROKE. HE WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE HE SAID IT SHOULD HAVE OUTLASTED THE LIFE OF THE ENGINE. NOT ONLY DID THIS BREAK, BUT WHEN IT BROKE, IT TORE UP MY ENGINE AS WELL. I THEN DID A SEARCH ON GOOGLE FOR "L200 TIMEING CHAIN" AND IT SEEMS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. NOT ONLY IS THIS A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT SATURN WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND POSTED A BULLETIN TO THEIR SERVICE CENTERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10209225

Incident

Nov 15, 2007

LTR FM (MA) BELIEVES THE ACCIDENT HE HAD WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECT IN THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY OF HIS 2002 SATURN L100. *TS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ALONG THE GUARDRAIL AND THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MOVE IT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO STEERING. THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES BUT THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. WHEN THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A STOP THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT NON OF THE FRONT OR SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY WHO DETERMINED THAT THE ENTIRE TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY HAD BEEN SMOOTHLY SHEARED OFF. *NM

NHTSA ID

10176420

Incident

Aug 27, 2006

LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN ON BEHALF OF HIS CONSTITUENT REGARDING A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT THAT OCCURRED WHEN HIS VEHICLES WHEEL ASSEMBLY DETACHED. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED HE SUDDENLY FELT THE VEHICLE SHAKE AND THEN HE BEGAN RIDING ALONG THE GUARDRAIL. THERE WAS NO STEERING AND THE CONSUMER COULDN'T ACCELERATE AWAY FROM THE GUARDRAIL AND WHEN HE HIT THE BRAKE, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. *JB THE ENTIRE RIGHT WHEEL ASSEMBLY INCLUDING TIRE, RIM, BRAKE ASEMBLY, ROCKER ARMS, AXLE AND STRUT WERE MISSING. *NM

NHTSA ID

10173295

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE ENTIRE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY DETACHED, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO HAVE TO GUIDE THE VEHICLE DOWN THE RIGHT GUARDRAIL WITH THE BRAKE DEPRESSED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. ALSO, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENTIRE TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY HAD BEEN SMOOTHLY SHEARED OFF. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE IMMEDIATELY. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED, AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO INFORMED.*AK UPDATED 10/25/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10166722

Incident

Aug 27, 2006

Mileage

72,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V245000 CONCERNING THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING THAT WAS PERFORMED HOWEVER; NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS EVOLVED SINCE THE REPAIR. THE DASH PANEL LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. ALTHOUGH THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHICH RESULTED IN A BATTERY FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER AND THE HEADLIGHT HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER WHICH DETERMINED THERE WAS A FAILURE OF THE DRIVE SHAFT AND THIS WAS REPLACED. THE ONGOING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO AWAIT FURTHER INSPECTION.

NHTSA ID

10152847

Incident

Mar 16, 2006

Mileage

75,200 mi

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HER HEAD A ROARING IN THE FRONT END. DRIVE SHIFT CAUSED CONSUMER TO WRECK 2002 SATURN. *TS THE CONSUMER NOTICED NOISE/VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END. THE CONSUMER HAS REPLACED SEVERAL TIRES. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE LEFT. AN ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED CORRECTING THE REAR CAM AND SETTING THE FRONT AND REAR TOE. A COLLAPSED MOTOR MOUNT CAUSED ROUGH IDLE. THE ROTORS AND PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE REAR HUB ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. LEFT REAR HUB BEARING HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DRIVE AXLE ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10143226

Incident

Jul 11, 2003

Mileage

23,614 mi

DT: THE CONTACT PURCHASED A USED VEHICLE TWO YEARS AGO, AND THE SECOND DAY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A ROARING NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER SAID THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT TIRES ,AND THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH TIRES. ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER THE NOISE RETURNED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR NUMEROUS REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK TO THE RIGHT WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO HIT A CURB. THERE WERE NO INJURIES BUT A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE REPAIRS TO THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND JOINTS WHICH HAVE NOT CORRECTED THIS PROBLEM. ALSO THE MOTOR MOUNTS AND AXLES HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN HOPES OF CORRECTING THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO ACCURATELY REPAIR THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY THERE IS A NEED FOR NEW ROTORS AND MORE TIRES. THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO HAVE A ROARING SOUND LIKE A LOCOMOTIVE AS NOTED BY THE CONTACT. *AK UPDATE 1/11/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10140308

Incident

Mar 9, 2003

Mileage

28,000 mi

THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE DRIVE SHAFT REPLACED, THE MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED, THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY REPLACED, THE STEERING ASSEMBLY REPLACED AND I TOO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE DASH LIGHTS DIMMING. THE TECHNICIANS AT THE LOCAL SATURN DEALERSHIP ARE NOTHING BUT RUDE. THEY DONT FIX THE PROBLEMS YOU BRING THE CAR IN FOR AND YOU END UP HAVING TO TAKE IT BACK THE NEXT DAY OR EVEN SOMETIMES THAT SAME EVENING FOR A REPAIR THAT WASNT DONE PROPERLY. I THOUGHT THIS WAS GOING TO BE A GOOD CAR BUT IT HAS BEEN CONSTANT TROUBLE AND IS CONSTANTLY IN THE REPAIR SHOP.

NHTSA ID

10126779

Incident

Jun 25, 2005

Mileage

26,000 mi